Serie A: Is Gattuso About To Derail Milan’s Title Challenge?

AC Milan vs Napoli

Gennaro Gattuso returns to the San Siro Stadium for a Sunday night date with his old friends from Milan, but he wants to leave with a win as his Napoli side continues its chase for Champions League football.

Serie A: AC Milan vs Napoli is the Italian match of the weekend. The hosts are still hoping for Scudetto glory but it’s going to be tough for Milan to catch Inter, six points behind I Nerazzurri after leading the table for so long. Anything other than a victory could spell disaster for Stefano Pioli’s team, particularly if Inter continue their seven match winning run in the league, as expected, when they meet struggling Torino earlier on Sunday.

After a sluggish start to the 2020/21 campaign, Napoli have been on a decent run which has lifted them up to sixth place and just three points behind fourth placed Roma, with a game in hand and a superior goal difference.

Talking Points

Milan must fight on without Zlatan

Pioli knows full well that his side is not the same without the 39-year-old Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and his top scorer is set to sit this one out, he’s still recovering from an injury sustained in the Rossoneri’s victory over Roma.

The legendary Swede has scored 14 goals already and he might even be favourite for the Golden Boot had he not missed so many games this season. Alongside him, 24-year-old Ivory Coast star Franck Kessie is having a good campaign and he carries the biggest goal threat in Zlatan’s absence. Playing in an advanced midfield role Kessie has contributed nine goals and, at 24 years of age, he has plenty of time to keep improving.

Meanwhile, on the wing, Ante Rebic always provides a threat, equally comfortable with both feet, with a sharp turn of pace and an eye for the killer ball or a goal.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is set to miss AC Milan's clash against Napoli in Serie A — Zlatan Ibrahimovic playing for AC Milan during their match against AS Roma

Milan have struggled at home recently, drawing with Udinese and Red Star Belgrade after taking a 3-0 thumping in the Milan derby, and it’s going to be tough against a team well drilled by their former hero.

Napoli’s midfield menace

Napoli head coach Gennaro Gattuso is a Milan legend, playing 468 games for the Rossoneri as one of the most feared midfield players in world football. His pugnacious and combative style, combined with brilliant vision and a superb array of passing struck fear into the hearts of opponents, while as a manager he is happy for his team to play with a combination of steel and style.

Matteo Politano and Piotr Zielinski have forged a top class partnership in the middle of the park. They are on the same wavelength and each can control the pace of the game while supporting their attackers. Politano has scored seven goals this season, while the excellent Zielinski has contributed six goals and five assists.

Meanwhile Lorenzo Insigne is back to his best, scoring 13 goals, which makes the Napoli skipper the joint sixth top scorer in the race for the Capocannoniere. And strike partner Hirving Lozano might be set for a return, having been sidelined for six games with a hamstring injury. The Mexican has been a key player in Napoli’s revival, scoring nine goals in the league.

History

The head to head AC Milan vs Napoli results couldn’t be closer, at 12 wins each from the 40 games played since 1993.

I Rossoneri won the return match in Naples 3-1 as Ibrahimovic scored a brace to hand Milan a first win in Naples in ten years.

Both teams are unbeaten in four matches, in all competitions, and have taken seven points from their last three games; but Napoli haven’t won in six attempts on the road.

Betting Tip

	AC Milan vs Napoli	Over 2.50 @ 1.92
	March 15, 03:45 (GMT+8)

Well folks, the AC Milan vs Napoli betting odds here at SBOTOP make the Rossoneri marginal favourites at odds of 2.42 with Napoli at 2.72 and the draw at 3.16.

Over the last six fixtures for each side, there have been two goals (or more) in every game; four of Napoli’s games have seen over 2.50 goals while Milan have had three over and three under.

So I’d say a minimum of two goals is a very good bet and the likelihood is we’ll see more, as both teams will be going for a victory. Napoli have been more free scoring in recent weeks but a point is no use at all for the Rossoneri.

It’s a close run thing with Under 2.50 goals available at odds of 1.96, but I’m backing an entertaining and high tempo match with plenty of goalmouth action.